Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As I said, it is six weeks since the former Commissioner stepped down and there have been conflicting signals coming from the various entities responsible for either nominating or appointing the next Commissioner. In the immediate aftermath of the retirement of the former Commissioner, the chairperson of the commission on the future of policing stated she believed it would be appropriate that a new Commissioner would not be appointed until such time as that commission had concluded its work. That caused concern among a number of people, particularly since it is envisaged that commission may take a considerable period of time to complete its work. At the time, there was talk about a period of delay of perhaps up to 20 months or so. As a member of the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality, I was there when the chairperson of the Policing Authority came in and she answered questions in respect of the appointment also. As the Minister mentioned, the Policing Authority has an invaluable role to play in this respect. She indicated she thought that would be too much of a delay.

The Government also has a very important role to play since itt appoints the person, on foot of the nomination of the Policing Authority. In particular, as the Minister is aware, under section 9(2) it is the Government that has to provide specific approval to the Policing Authority inviting it to allow the Public Appointments Service to commence the competition. When does the Minister think that role will be commenced by the Government?

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